Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-05
WANTED DELAY.
THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN COUNCIL
STAYR OFF THE RECOUNT
OF the Votes Cast in the Second Ward-Democrat:
in Vain Urge Prompt AciOn-An EH-
citing Session.

tClooN III
been signed by three members from each
Branch of Council, asking the Mayor to
summon the body to meet last evening to
consider allegations affecting the result
in the Second ward, and probably sufficient
to change the complexion OF Council and
affect the titles of II or two officials
whose election devOlved..upOn the people,
created quite q stir among the Republican
politicians, and there was an immense
amount Of consultation done among the
Councilmen belonging to that organization
during the day. There wa a considerable
difference of opinion as to what was the
best thing to do, under the circumstances,
and it was agreed to have q caucus at the
Lincoln Club before the hour ofthe Council
meeting, in order that a definite
programme might be mapped out.
This caucus wal held, and at it it was
determined to insist upon a delay in the
proposed investigation until the middle
of the month, SO that time might be gained,
and other and more elaborate plans Tor
thwarting the minority might be pc
fected, thus allowing the result OF the bal
loting announced upon the night OF the
election to stand. The caucus did not ad-
iourn until nearly halt-past seven, the Re
publicans at Ouce proceeding IN q body 10
the City Hall, where the found the Second
Branch in session, and the Sergeant on duty
skirmishing around the corridor III the ell
deavor to get his hands upOna stray Re
publican member who was lodging the
issue in more senses than one.
There was a tremendous crowd OF voters
in attendance, the galleries and lobbies IN
each chamber being filled to their utmost
capacity.
At half-past seven o'clock Mr.. Robert
son called the members of the Second
Branch to order and moved that MIR. Cruise
take the chair. The motion prevailed, and
the roll being ordered called, Messrs.
Auber, Cruise, Healy, Miller, Praeht,
Robertson, Steger, Vockler, Whyte,
Warner and Young, all Democrats, answer-
ed TO their names. MesSrs. Davis and
Harrell, Democrats, and all the Republic
rams were absent. There being no quorum
present, the Sergeant was ordered to arrest
absentees and bring them to the chamber.
The officer on duty procured \ list OF the
absentees and started for the Lincoln Club,
where he had been informed the Republic
can members were, but before he got out
of the City Hall the Republicans appeared
in a body, and President Gilleland took
the chair. The roll was again called, and
all the members answered. to their names
except Messrs. Caldwell and Harrell.
Mr.. Cruise moved that the reading of the
minutes be dispensed with, out the Repub-
licaus urged that they be read, and the
Clerk began with the record of the first
meeting of the new body. BY the time he
had got down to last Tuesday s special
meeting the Republicans had enough OF it,
and began to squeal, but the Democrats
now took their turn in urging that every
word be read, and everybody settled down
to wait until the task should be compile
ted.
The reading of the minutes concluded, a
resolution, offered in the First Branch by
Mr.. Delbrugge, ordering the printing OF
letter heads for the Mayor, was read, but
as it involved the expediture of money it
was declared out of order, and MIR. Cruise
offered the same thing, which was adopted.
The Clerk read the following:
1.-The undersigned say that, at the last
city election in the city of Wheeling, We
acted as the canvassers for the Second ward
poll, and in counting the votes where we
found ballots that contained more than the
prOper number of names for any office,
that first OH the ballot was counted by us
for the said office. Some tickets had four
names and others as manya as six names fol
Second Branch of Council, and in that case
we counted only the first three names fol
| Second Branch of COuncil ON those ballots,
AUG. MATTHEW'S"
MIR. Robertson offered the following in
relation thereto:
ResoIred, That a committee of four be
appointed TO recount the votes of said ward,
| consisting of two Democrats aud two Re-
publicans, said committee to be appointed
by the President.
Mr.. Robertson moved the adoption of his
resolution, speaking with great earnestness
in favor of an immediate investigation Us
best subscribing the ends of Justice and be-
ing fair to all concerned.
Mr.. Allison was opposed TO rushing the
thing through. He offered the following
~ q substitute:
ReSoired, That the consideration OF all
questions relative to %recounting the ballots
in any ward OF the city be postponed until
a special meeting of Council, to be called
for Tuesday, February Is, 1887, at 7:3l
p. m.
A red hot debate was at once inaugu-
rated, participated in by Messrs. Cruise and
Robertson, on the part of the Democrats,
and NeSsrs. Allison, Maxwell, Jones,
Garyin and other Republicans. The Dem
Ocrats urged, that in all justice the re
count should be had at the earliest posi-
BILE moment, but the Republicans, without
bringing forward any plausible reason fOl
delay, deprecated any action at this time,
The spectators took a large interest in
what was said, and the several speeches
were applauded or Kissed as their views
met the approval or diSlpprOyal of those
within hearing. In the midst of the de
bate a substitute, identical with that of
fered by Mr.. Allison, introduced in the
First Branch by Mr.. Dobbius and passed
by that body, came over and it was taken
up at once.
Mr.. Cruise raised the point that as the
substitute involved an expenditure O
money, it could not properly originate il
that Chamber, but no attention was paiC
to him by the Chair.
Mr.. Robertson moved to not concur il
the substitute, and upon that question TIT
ayes and uays were demanded. In tn
midst of the roll call Mr.. Cruise urged tina
the members from the Second ward. bein!
interested parties, refrain from voting
This appeal was laughed at by the Repub
licans, and the vote proceeded. The vot,
resulted ayes II, nays ii, a strict party
vote.
The substitute by Mr.. Dobbins wa
then adopted by a party vote, and tn,
Branch adjourned.
In the First Branch His Honor the May
or presided, and all the members wer
present except AR. Kinney.
Mr.. Myles offered the following:
Rc>OIred, That ajoint committee Of six
three from each Branch, to be appointed
by the Mayor and President Of the Secon(
Branch, be named, they to be fully EN-
powered to make a'recount of the ballot